Position Description and Application Information
Job Description
With the vast majority of land in Illinois being privately owned, private-land conservation programs provide critical habitat for wildlife in a landscape dominated by agriculture. The Illinois Natural History Survey is seeking 1-2 highly motivated field technician to assist with a project examining which bird species are using private lands enrolled in the Illinois Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and how habitat provided by these easements changes over time. Field work will involve starting surveys at dawn and sometimes working into the afternoon in the hot and humid Illinois summer with biting insects like mosquitoes and ticks. Responsibilities will include communicating with landowners to schedule site visits, navigating to field locations, conducting broadcasts for several species of conservation concern (Red-headed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo), conducting multi-species point counts, sampling vegetation, and entering data.
Qualifications
Candidates with an interest in avian ecology, working towards, or with a completed degree in Wildlife Science or a related field are encouraged to apply. Experience conducting point counts and broadcast surveys highly preferable. Candidates must know or be able to quickly learn to identify Illinois species by sight and sound. Field recordings will be provided for study before the start of the field season. The successful applicant will be self-motivated, organized, able to work independently under difficult field conditions, possess good communication skills, and have a desire to learn more about breeding birds in Illinois while facing the challenges of field work with good humor. Must have a driver’s license with a clean driving record.
Salary: $13 – 15 per hour, depending on experience. Field vehicle and housing provided.
Available: mid-May through mid- July, 40 hours per week
